The New York Times

Two Comets Are Moving Into Your Night Skies in October - October 3, 2025 online; October 14, 2025 in print

National Geographic

How to see the planet from above and below - October 2025 print issue

Are interstellar objects proof of alien life? This could finally settle the debate. — July 24, 2025

Earth's newest telescope could discover Planet 9—and solve other huge mysteries — June 20, 2025

NOTUS

Space Cowboys vs. Science Nerds: How Trump Initiated a Struggle for NASA’s Future — June 2, 2025

The Atlantic

These are some of my favorite stories. A bazillion more can be found on my author page here.

A Moon-Size Hole in Cat Research — October 21, 2024

We Ruined Rain — June 20, 2024

The Search for Alien Life Starts on Earth — July 17, 2024

Totality Is Worth It — April 8, 2024

We’re Gambling With the Only Good Oceans in the Universe — August 2, 2023

A New Age of UFO Mania — February 15, 2023

Seeing Earth From Space Will Change You — December 10, 2022

Why Is NASA’s Hold Music So Catchy? — August 30, 2022

The Coolest Space Picture I’ve Ever Seen — July 12, 2022

Our Solar System in True Color Is Really Something Else — February 3, 2022

The Most Exciting Spot in the Cosmos Right Now Is French Guiana — December 23, 2021

The Uncomfortable Truths of American Spaceflight — November 10, 2021

The Moon Is Leaving Us — September 30, 2021

Elon Musk Is Maybe, Actually, Strangely, Going to Do This Mars Thing — May 6, 2021

Who Would Kidnap a Space Telescope? — March 12, 2021

No One Should ‘Colonize’ Space — September 17, 2020

Why SpaceX Wants a Tiny Texas Neighborhood So Badly — February 11, 2020

The Coming End of an Era at NASA — July 27, 2019

The Moment That Made Neil Armstrong’s Heart Rate Spike — July 15, 2019

The Fleeting Magic of Scholastic Book Fairs — November 16, 2018

When a Mars Simulation Goes Wrong — June 22, 2018

The Most Honest Out-of-Office Message — June 11, 2018

What Color Is a Tennis Ball? — February 15, 2018

Why the Curiosity Rover Stopped Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Itself - August 10, 2017

National Journal

I worked at National Journal as a staff correspondent and then news editor, covering the White House, Congress, and politics, from July 2013 and July 2015.

Inside the Lush Lifestyle the National Thanksgiving Turkeys Lead Before They’re Pardoned - November 26, 2014

Smithsonian Magazine

I was a digital intern at Smithsonian from January 2013 and July 2013.

Don’t Listen to the Buzz: Lobsters Aren’t Actually Immortal — June 3, 2013